The curator of Colne’s Titanic in Lancashire Museum has said he is “happy to look at” workable solutions to keep his attraction in the town.

At the start of the month, we exclusively revealed Nigel Hampson’s plans to move his Church Street museum to Samlesbury Hall, near Preston, at the end of June.

But now, following a petition launched by the Chairman of Waterside Neighbourhood Action Group Derek Mann, Mr Hampson has agreed to enter into talks with local councillors about other possible sites in Colne.

Mr Hampson said that it would be preferable to keep the Titanic in Lancashire museum in the hometown of the doomed ship’s bandmaster Wallace Hartley.

But he argued that the “current premises are simply not up to the task”.

If he were to move to Samlesbury Hall, Mr Hampson, who lives in Brierfield, said he would be able to triple the size of his exhibition.

He added: “We are desperate for more space and better access for people with mobility problems.

“School and coach parties suffer due to this lack of space, we do the very best we can, but are painfully aware that we can not give them as interesting and unique a visit as we could, given bigger premises.

“When I look around Colne at some of the beautiful buildings that we are blessed with that are standing empty and suffering from neglect it’s heartbreaking.

The Titanic

“If a workable solution can be found to keep the museum in Colne I would be very happy to look at it.”

Mr Hampson also added that a joint application between the museum and another agency for lottery funding could provide a “workable framework for the museum’s future development and sustainability in the town”.

According to Mr Mann a number of residents have suggested various options to keep the Titanic in Lancashire Museum in Pendle.

During a recent protest event, Mr Mann was given suggestions such as the old school house building, in Exchange Street.

The Titanic in Lancashire Museum, which is run by a small team of volunteers, has been based in Colne for the past 18 months.

It tells the story of the RMS Titanic and her historic maiden and only voyage through artefacts, pictures and a documentary.

Mr Hampson had been touring with his collection, before he was offered a permanent base in the town by the Rev. Tony Rindl.

His fascination with the Titanic was sparked as a youngster, after he bought a model kit with a £10 Woolworths’ gift voucher.

A dedicated author who has devoted thousands of hours of his time to studying the Titanic’s bandmaster and many of its musicians has officially shared his latest work at Colne Library.

Christian G. Tennyson-Ekeberg attended the Market Street site to sign copies of “Nearer, our God, to Thee: A New Comprehensive Biography of the TITANIC Bandmaster”.

The 400-page book, which is the culmination of over 14 years of research, is filled with many new facts.

And many have been culled from relatives of musicians involved in the infamous 1912 disaster.

And a large percentage of the 350 illustrations have also never previously been published.

Bandmaster Wallace Hartley was born and raised in Colne, lived for a time in Nelson and later moved to Dewsbury in Yorkshire.

The Titanic

He is famed, along with the rest of the Titanic musicians, for playing on as the ship sunk after hitting an iceberg.

In Mr Tennyson-Ekeberg’s book, new light is shed on the Pendle violinist’s last hours, and the life of his fiancée Maria Robinson.

The author was also given exclusive access to the Wallace Hartley and Maria Robinson archive, which includes personal possessions recovered from Mr Hartley’s body after the disaster which shook the world.

For sales, contact 01924 461059 and for more information visit:

www.nearerourgodtothee.com